The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-04-11

religious forces are withdrawn from
such regions? The days have surely
come, of which Amos prophesied,
when he said: Beloved, the days
come, saith the Lord God, that l
will send famine in the land, not
famine of bread, nor thirst for
water, but Of hearing the words Of
the Lord.
The outlook should not dismay
us. Is it not written-"When the
enemy shall come in like a food, the
Spirit of the Lord shall lift up
standard against him?"
1t will avail little if we fixed our
minds on the dark phases of religi-
GUS effort here. What we need is
to imbibe the spirit Of the fathers,
and gather up our strength and
courage for aggressive work of q
more pronounced type than we have
known here in recent years.
He then referred in marked and
impressive words to tour response
bility for the maintenance of Chris
tan effort among Hawaiians. the
decay of Christian faith and prac-
tice among the native population"
inferring therefrom that it "means
the overthrow of Christian institu-
tions in this land"
Proceeding, Mr.. Oleson said: "It
is only too common remark among
us, We'll, what is the use? This is
dying race and to what purpose is
all this waste of money and SER
vices?"
Observe how spiritually paralyz-
ing this conviction is in all lines of
Christian effort. 1t takes the edge
off of all aggressive endeavor in
behalf of the race and renders
abortive much that is undertaken in
Its interest. 1t is moreover a most
il)-advised and un-Christian preju-
dice. For our religion is not for
races but for individuals irrespective
of race, and so far as Christian obli-
CATION is concerned were there but
one solitary Hawaiian left among us,
the responsibility would be none the
less strenuous to provide for his
conversion and progress in Christian
life. We cannot treat, in any light
way, the obligation to promote
Christian influences among the 49,
900 aborigines of this land. 1t may,
or may not be true, that this people
are destined to extinction. That
has nothing to do either way with
the responsibility to forward their
moral and spiritual welfare. We
have present with us generation of
needy souls who have always been
very largely dependent on the for
eign population for religious stimu-
lus and support. That dependence
is more marked to-day than ever
before. 1t is the measure Of our
responsibility. We shall prove re-
creant to our spiritual Inheritance
If we do not accept this response
bility on this suggestive occasion
with renewed conservation. 1t is
the legacy of the fathers to us the
children of another generation.
In conclusion he said, "We may
rightfully look to the homeland for
substantial support. Our brethren
across the water are responsible with
us for the perpetuity Of vital religi-
Gus forces here. 1t is indeed diff
cult to see how they can be exempt
ed from very important share in
this responsibility. But to us who
are here, the responsibility assumes
personal character OF no mean
proportion. 1t means close identi-
flcation with the Hawaiian churches
and Sunday schools. 1t means
great patience and courageous
steadfastness in the face Of moral
disheartening obstacles 1t means
o wrestling In prayer for nation in
peculiar jeopardy. 1t means a
spirit of self-sacritice in order that
the overwhelming breach between
foreigners and natives may he
mlnimized. 1t means less of luxury
in our homes and simpler habits
for US all TO allay the growing
passion for display among the
younger generation of Hawaiians.
And tonight as VIC turn our eyes
from the remarkable fortitude and
patience, the tactful wisdom and
consecrated service OF the fathers
who so gladly gave their lives to the
evangelization of this people, and
turn our faces toward the future
with all its spiritual possibilities, le,
us humbly acknowledge Him whose
spirit possessed the fathers, and
must evermore possess our souls II
we are 10 cope successfully with the
heavy personal responsibility tina
! falls to-day ON every Christian be-
lever i'm this Island realm.n